Prop 8 Opponent Kamala Harris Wins California Atty Genl Race

San Francisco District Attorney Kamala Harris will become California's next attorney general—after Republican opponent Los Angeles County District Attorney Steve Cooley finally conceded today, three weeks after he prematurely declared victory after the Nov. 2 election. Harris, a veteran champion of LGBT rights, becomes the state's first female attorney general and the nation's first Black female attorney general.

It's a key progressive victory and a substantial win for LGBT Californians. Californians have now elected another governor and attorney general who oppose Proposition 8. Harris and Governor-Elect Jerry Brown have promised not to defend Prop 8 in court or appeal the landmark ruling that found the ballot initiative to be unconstitutional.

Cooley conceded defeat today as he trailed "by more than 50,000 votes in one of the closest statewide races" in California history, reports the Los Angeles Times. About 150,000 votes are outstanding, the vast majority in liberal counties that Harris carried, including Contra Costa, Monterey and Sonoma.

Kamala Harris served Cooley lunch in his own backyard, too. Harris won Los Angeles County by 14 points.

Harris' victory comes less than two weeks before the Ninth Circuit is scheduled to hear oral arguments on December 6 in the Proposition 8 proponents' appeal of Chief U.S. Judge Vaughn Walker's ruling. Walker has suggested that only the state has "standing" to defend the ballot initiative. That hearing will be broadcast on C-SPAN.

Comments

[TheRevKev]

NOW THIS IS SOMETHING TO BE THANKFUL FOR AND ABOUT, INDEED!!!

Bravo and again, thanks for always keeping us on the pulse of news, Rod! YOU'RE THE BEST!!!

Love and many thanks to and for you in this season. Love indeed and in doing.

[mjolnir202]

Thank you for this. This is heartening to read. It's always good to hear about straight, black people who realize that the civil rights struggle didn't end in the 60's can see the common humanity of gay people.

[Raheem]

Rod, thanks a million. I never heard of this very talented woman until now. I freakin' love all this progressive straight black allies that help gays fight for our rights.

Still floored that San Francisco's DA was a black woman and now she is California's attorney general.

[Taylor Siluwé]

Good news indeed ...